Filipinos’ Palestinian spouses allowed to leave Gaza

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (File photo from the Presidential Communications Office)

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday said 40 out of the 136 Filipinos have been evacuated from the war-torn Gaza Strip and are on their way to Cairo in Egypt.

“I am happy to announce that 40 of our countrymen have safely and successfully crossed the Rafah crossing in Egypt,” Mr. Marcos said.

He said the safe passage of the 40 Filipinos was made possible through the coordination of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) with the embassies in Israel, Jordan and Egypt.

He also thanked Qatar’s mediation effort, which he said led to the opening of the borders.

2 nights in Cairo

Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo said besides the 40 Filipinos, there’s one Palestinian spouse from the Gaza Strip who made it and they are all expected to arrive in Manila on Friday.

DFA Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega told the Inquirer on Wednesday the Filipinos would be staying in Cairo for two nights before they get on a plane to Manila on Friday.

He added the Palestinian spouse was able to successfully cross with her Filipino husband through the help of the humanitarian network, Red Crescent.

De Vega previously said all Palestinian spouses were already approved by Israel “in principle” to leave Gaza along with their Filipino partners but they were all waiting for the “official and written approval” to make this certain.

There are still 95 Filipinos in Gaza and many of them opted not to be repatriated because they don’t want to leave their Palestinian partners behind.

Most of the evacuated Filipinos, however, don’t fall under overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) category since many of them were born and raised in Gaza with only little connection to their families in the Philippines.

Financial assistance

The DFA will provide assistance to these overseas Filipinos.

In a Viber message on Wednesday, Presidential Communications Secretary Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil said “the President has instructed the DMW (Department of Migrant Workers), Owwa (Overseas Workers Welfare Administration), DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development), as well as Tesda (Technical Education and Skills Development Authority) to provide assistance.”

Repatriates from Israel accumulated to 184 OFWs and seven infants as of Tuesday. According to the Presidential Communication Office, those repatriated from Israel will receive $200 or P10,976 in financial assistance while waiting for their flights in Manila.